Shannon Perris Knight is known as the wife of the famous Kevin Gage. Kevin is an American ‘character actor’ who has been featured in a couple of movies including G. I. Jane, L. A Law, and his break-out movie, Heat where he played the character ‘Waingro’.
Perris Knight’s relationship with her husband before their marriage was brief and unfortunately, so was the marriage. Gage and Perris Knight’s marriage sadly ended 8 years into it. The cause of this abrupt end was foreseen but unavoidable as they couldn’t have fought death.
Here are 10 Interesting Facts about Shannon Perris Knight You Should Know
1. She was born in Santa Barbara
Shannon Perris Knight was born Shannon Butcher on June 29, 1972, in Santa Barbara. She lived there with her family and parents and basically spent most of her lifetime in Santa Barbara.
Safe for her marriage to Kevin Gage, Shannon’s life and its activities would have been completely obscure to the public as she was a private person. In fact, she and her husband shared that much in common.
Despite keeping to herself most of the time, Shannon had a huge family and was quite close to them. She also loved outdoor activities which included walks in the woods and by the river.
Kevin’s wife loved going to the beaches and traveling to places like Hawaii. Additionally, she used to play baseball and was reportedly good at the sport. Above all, Perris Knight loved to spend quality time with the family she started with her husband.
2. Shannon Perris Knight wasn’t Kevin Gage’s First Wife
Before Shannon Butcher came into the picture as Kevin’s wife, he was previously married. Gage got married to a fellow actress whom he met on the set of a movie. The movie was ‘SpaceCamp’ and the woman he met and fell in love with was Kelly Preston.
Kelly got to play the role of Tish Ambrose while Kevin was to play a minor role. Unfortunately, Gage’s role never made it to the last, released version of the movie. This did not in any way interfere with their love though.
Kevin and Kelly got married in 1985 in Hawaii and the marriage lasted two years before ending in 1987. However, they both moved on soon after the dissolution of the marriage.
Kelly went on to marry actor, John Travolta after brief relationships with George Clooney and Charlie Sheen. Preston and Travolta got married in the early 1990s.
Gage Kevin’s next public relationship happened many years later. This was when he met Shannon Perris Knight in 2005. A year after they met and fell in love, in 2006 Butcher and the actor got married in Santa Barbara where she hails from.
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3. Who is Shannon Perris Knight’s Husband?
He was born Kevin Gaede on May 26, 1959, in Wisconsin, USA. Gaede has been an actor since 1984 to date. As already stated, Kevin Gage is famously referred to as a ‘character actor’.
As an actor, he has over 60 credits to his name for roles in movies and television. He initially used to work on his grandfather’s farmland upon graduating from school. While in school, Gaede was good at sports but did not pursue a career in the field.
Nonetheless, he moved to Florida and began to take up menial jobs in order to sustain himself. Gage was eventually discovered by an agent while he worked as a bartender in a bar. He was then encouraged to go to acting school and get the knowledge and experience in acting.
Soon after his discovery and studies, Shannon’s husband began to audition for acting roles. He eventually was able to break into Hollywood and is well recognized in the industry.
Some of his notable movies include:
- Heat – 1995
- G. I. Jane – 1997
- Point Bank – 1998
- Confessions of an American Girl – 2002
- Laid to Rest – 2009
- 7 Minutes – 2014
- Jurassic City – 2015
- My Father Die – 2016
- Smallville – 2003
- C. S.I: Miami – 2006
4. She had a Son with her Husband
A year after Shannon Perris Knight’s marriage to her actor husband, she gave birth to a son. The name of the boy is Ryder Jay and he was born in January 2007. Ryder is the first and only kid of Shannon and her husband.
During his marriage with Kelly, Kevin Gage had no kids. Preston however went on to bear two kids with her second husband, John. Her kids’ names are Ella Bleu, born in 2000, and Benjamin, born in 2010. Kelly Preston had a son named Jett who was born in 1992 but died in 2009 of seizures, at the age of 16.
5. Kevin Gage did Prison Time
Gage got a time of 41 months in the Federal Prison. The reason for his arrest and sentencing which happened on July 30, 2003, was that he was caught with marijuana. An accident Kevin had when he was about 32 years old prompted his use of the drug for medicinal purposes.
Despite having a California-issued permit for medicinal marijuana, the Smallville actor was sentenced. Kevin Gaede stated that he began to grow the medicinal drug after the accident in 1993.
That reason coupled with the fact that his sister battled cancer and his brother suffered from multiple sclerosis and both needed the drug, necessitated his investment in growing marijuana.
While in prison, he became a model prisoner as the guards and some inmates knew him from his movies. They even addressed him as ‘Waingro’, the character he played in Heat. The 65 year-old Sons of Anarchy star was released on March 17, 2006.
6. Shannon’s Career was Centered on the Arts
She is famous for being Gaede’s second wife but was that all she was? The answer to this is ‘no.’ Shannon was interested and involved in artistic ventures. She was known to be a photographer, artist, and actress.
Though there isn’t much linking to some of her works, it is known that Knight left S.B at a point in her life. Upon leaving her hometown, she moved to Hollywood where she would finesse her talent and career.
7. Tragedy Hit Shannon Perris and her Family
2008 came with the news that would forever change the lives of the Knight-Gage household. It was in this year that Mrs. Gage was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer.
This news is a resemblance to Kevin’s ex-wife’s case and lost battle with cancer. Kelly Preston, Gage’s first wife was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018. After battling with it for two years, she died on July 12, 2020, at the age of 57.
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8. Shannon Perris Knight’s Death
With the aforementioned diagnosis, Butcher and her family moved away from the big city. It became imperative for Shannon to live in a quiet and peaceful environment on account of her illness.
Moving to Ensenada, Baja, California, Shannon and her family lived a peaceful life, dreading and awaiting the consequence of cancer while possibly hoping for the best. At some point, Kevin had to take a 5-year break from work in order to tend to his son, Ryder. This break was from 2007 to 2012. He however went back to work and has remained active to date.
The wife of the Renegade actor was taken care of by her husband and parents. However, the real tragedy hit home when Shannon Perris Knight died on the 13th of July 2014. She died in her hometown, in the same house she was raised in. Shannon was about 38 years old when she died.
Her death shook the whole family and she left a lot of people grieving over her. Kevin’s wife died exactly 6 years and a day after the death of his first wife, Kelly Preston, and of cancer as well.
9. In the Wake of her Demise
Following Shannon Perris Knight’s death, Kevin took up the responsibility of tending to their son. He has dedicated his life to raising Ryder up the best possible way he can and has admitted that it is the greatest joy of his life.
Ryder is now 17 years old and lives in Southern California with his doting father.
Gage hasn’t been linked to a new relationship with any woman since the death of Shannon. However, given that he is a private man, he just may be keeping a romance secret.
10. Her son followed in his Father’s Footsteps
The late photographer and actress’ son, Ryder seems to have chosen a career part in movies. Just like his father, he has taken up acting and has been featured in at least two movies.
The titles of the movies are; The Owl in Echo Park and Fear Clinic where he plays the role of Kevin. These movies also have his father working on them and so Jay isn’t far away from Kevin.
